​Export version of Z-19 conducts maiden flight

The first sortie included hovering, ground-effect manouevring, and low passes, says China's official Xinhua news agency, in a report posted on the defence ministry's website.

Xinhua/REX/Shutterstock

The Z-19E is the export variant of the Z-19 attack helicopter, in service with China's People's Liberation Army Air Force.

"It is able to be deployed for battlefield support and a variety of other missions in a complicated battlefield environment during both day and night," says Li Shengwei, deputy chief designer of AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry.